Back to basics

Known more for its arty craft stalls and impressive stud farms set at the foot of the mighty Drakensberg escarpment, the Natal Midlands area is understandably underrated as a golfing destination. While this part of the country may not possess the large number of layouts of, say, George or the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, it certainly compensates by way of uniqueness and country charm.

Although Bosch Hoek and Victoria have long waved the flag for Midlands golf – with the former rated by many as the finest nine-hole course in the land – it’s the newest addition to this golfing landscape that is arguably the most interesting.

Gowrie Farm golf course, located in the quaint village of Nottingham Road just outside Hilton, has been open for a little under three years, but is already announcing itself as a strong contender for Bosch Hoek’s crown.

Records indicate that this prime piece of real estate was home to the first prime minister of Natal, Charles Smythe, and that there was, for a period of time in the 1920s, a nine-hole golf course on the grounds. Today the land that makes up Gowrie Farm incorporates the golf course, a 125-stand housing estate, various accommodation options and numerous trout-filled dams.

The course

The course itself is a very interesting design and a discussion with the estate developer Guy Smith revealed that he has achieved exactly what he set out to do. Smith drew from his experience of developing Prince’s Grant and, after some advice from Peter Matkovich, set about building the golf course himself.

“I’ve always liked the old, classic courses,” says Smith, “so I took the main features of these classic courses, like raised greens, low tees, rugged, heavy bunkering and fairways that aren’t too wide. I used local farmers to help with the irrigation and we basically did it ourselves – it’s home-built!”

In the end Smith and company managed to build the 12 holes – three extra holes come into play just once during your 18 holes, creating an interesting variation between the two nines – with little more than a tractor, bulldozer, dam scoop and a healthy dose of passion for the game. And yet the result speaks for itself – an uncompromising links-style layout that tests, teases and charms the visiting golfer.

“I think the reason why so many golf estates are battling,” he reasons, “is that they spend so much money making the golf course that they feel they have to become exclusive.
“We only spent R6.5 million on the course and another million on irrigation, but we didn’t have the budget to move earth, so we moved very little.”
What this has translated into, in line with Smith’s broader vision, is the creation of a golf club that is open to just about anyone.

“I think golf has lost its way,” says Smith. “Courses no longer introduce people to golf and they don’t contribute to the game of golf. So I have tried to create a general golf club feeling at Gowrie. We encourage visitors and members in a culture of anti-exclusivity.”

Anyone who tends to spray the ball around might find the course itself a little less welcoming, however, as Gowrie Farm’s layout is every bit as testing as the more famous courses from where Smith drew inspiration – courses such as Royal Dornoch in the UK, and Merrion and Pinehurst in the USA.

Knee-high rough straddles Gowrie’s fairways and even if you manage to play fairly straight off the tee, there are still plenty of rugged bunkers you will need to avoid en route to the putting surfaces. The course does reward good play and, while it is hard to get the ball near the hole, the greens are soft enough to hold long approach shots and run nice and smooth.

Although the 1st hole might ease you into the course, requiring a fairway wood for most players, the par-five 2nd (which plays as the difficult par-four, stroke-two 12th on the back nine) provides the first real taste of what this golf course is all about, playing deceptively long into the prevailing wind and featuring the fast, contoured greens that are a distinctive feature of the course.

All of the holes on the front nine are played from completely different tee-boxes when it comes to the back nine, and many of them play to different par ratings, giving one the feeling of playing two totally different nines. There are even three shorts– the par-three 4th, 11th and 16th holes – that feature once only, making up the 12 holes on the course. The 16th is one of the signature holes, a 164-metre one-shotter played over water that must surely rank harder than its stroke rating of 18.

Although distinctly links-like in character, Gowrie Farm features plenty of water hazards on the course, and the par-four 9th and par-five 18th holes both play around the large dam in front of the clubhouse.

The 18th hole is a curious piece of design that is likely to frustrate the purist and confuse the average golfer, offering as much chance of a birdie as of a double-bogey.
The tee shot is rather tricky as anything hit too straight is likely to run out of fairway and trickle into the dam, and perhaps this hole is best played with a 3-wood off the tee. Even if one does find the perfect landing area, golfers are left with an interesting choice for their next shot.

Either there’s a 200-metre carry over the dam to the green or a lay-up with not much more than a wedge to a semi-island that is also home to the 9th green. It’s not exactly a page out of the course-design textbook, but adds quirkiness to a course that is anything but a hit-and-giggle layout.

The clubhouse

The Gowrie Farm clubhouse, overlooking its prize trout fishing dam and back over the course, is as good a spot as any to enjoy some of the famous Nottingham Road hospitality, although be forewarned that once you have settled in here, it is almost impossible to leave.

Just as well then that they have rooms in the lodge upstairs, meaning you can almost fall out of bed and onto the 1st tee.
With a small budget and limited space, Smith has somehow managed to create a fine layout.

“I wanted to build a course that interpreted my views on golf,” he said, “and Gowrie gave me the chance to do what I wanted.
“And building it was more fun than I have ever had on a golf course.”

Picture 1

Avoiding the greenside bunker on the 417-metre par-four 3rd is crucial to walking away with a par on this difficult hole.

Picture 2

One of Gowrie Farm’s signature holes, and part of a collection of five challenging short holes on the par-70 layout, is the par-three 15th. The tee shot requires a carry over water to a small target.

Picture 3

The 4th hole is a deceptively challenging par three, playing from just 131 metres, but the green is well protected by deep bunkers in front and a dam at the back, so correct club selection is vital on this short hole.

Picture 4: The clubhouse

Much like the course itself, the Gowrie Farm clubhouse is modest yet classy. The golf lodge can be found right above the clubhouse.

Likes...

• The Gowrie philosophy of no carts – golf is a game that is meant to be walked.
• Two nines feel like different parts of the course.
• The housing estate does not compromise the course in any way.

... and dislikes

• Sure, the 18th hole falls into the ‘gimmicky’ category, but overall, there aren’t many complaints about Gowrie.

Fact File

Getting there:  From N3, take the Nottingham Rd/Mount West offramp, proceed to Nottingham Road and link onto R103, course is on your left-hand side.

GPS coordinates: S29º21’48.6” E30º00’11.2”

Course: Inland links, bentgrass greens, kikuyu fairways and tees. Rye grass rough.

Designer: Guy Smith

General manager: Clive Foss

Course superintendent: Kevin Wood

Greenfees: Affiliated: R150 Non-affiliated: R200

Contact: Tel: 033 266 6348 www.gowrie.co.za gowriegolfclub@telkomsa.net